Lady Muskiestop Heidelbergfor sixth win

Published: January 6, 2013 8:00 AM

NEW CONCORD -- Capitalizing on turnovers by the visiting Heidelberg Lady Student Princes and getting a big contribution from the bench, Muskingum University Lady Fighting Muskies garnered a 68-54 Ohio Athletic Conference win Saturday afternoon in the Recreation Center.

The Lady Muskies collected 19 points off Heidelberg turnovers and got 20 points from the bench to pocket the OAC victory.

The early going of the initial half was nip-n-tuck, with Heidelberg leading by one (8-7) with 14:11 left in the round. Senior Hannah Nelson (Buckeye Trail) put the hosts in front with a lay-up at the 113:51 juncture and the Lady Muskies built the led to as many as 11 (26-17) on a three-pointer by Gabbi Davis with 2:53 remaining before halftime.

In the second half, the Lady Student Princes cut the difference to two on a trey by Paige Ricketts with 15:23 left and then knotted the score at 37 on a lay-in from Megan Miller at the 14:50 mark.

Bridgette Neighbors snapped the tie with a three-pointer to put the Lady Muskies in front to stay and Muskingum (6-7, 1-5 OAC) strung together a 18-4 run to build a 14-point spread with 9:17 left.

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The closest Heidelberg could get again was a seven-point deficit (57-50) with 6:08 showing. The visitors were within nine with 3:13 remaining, but Muskingum converted 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to preserve the 68-54 win.

Neither team shot the ball extremely well with the Lady Muskies connecting on 24-of-67 field shots for 35.8 percent, but tacked on 14-of-17 from the foul line. Jendy Weppler paced four players in double figures for the Muskingum scoring attack with 15 points. Nelson followed with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Davis chipped in with 12 points and Neighbors finished with 10 counters.

Heidelberg (5-8, 1-5 OAC) shot an identical 35.8 percent from the floor (19-of-53) but was only 10-of-19 from the charity stripe. Megan Phillips led the Lady Student Princes with 15 points with Emily Giel adding 11, Jordan Ickes nine and Ricketts seven points.

Muskingum also won the battle of the boards with a 45-38 rebounding edge paced by Nelson. Meghan Billick followed with 10 boards and Davis hauled down eight. Miller led Heidelberg on the glass with nine rebounds wit Ricketts and Kyra Dorney adding five caroms each.

NEXT-- Muskingum travels to Columbus to face Capital University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.